As Thanksgiving gets closer, it’s time to start preparing for the question you will get asked by your family as you sit around the dinner table: “What are you thankful for?” This may seem like an easy question, but trying to come up with of something original, as well as reflective of the whole year is actually quite the challenge. So I’ve prepared a list of things that you can legitimately say are not only true but will make you look extra insightful and thankful. Be prepared to amaze and awe your friends and family with any one of these mic drop worthy reasons.
1. Legalization of gay marriage
It started with Ireland, then the U.S. Next step: The world. It’s great to be able to finally legalize something that has been a long road for many people. It was a celebration heard across the world. There’s no greater victory than to be able to say that legally we live in a country where anyone can marry whoever they want. Love is love.
2. TV show revivals
"Fuller House"; "Twin Peaks"; "The X-Files"; "Gilmore Girls." With so many revivals, spin-offs and prequels happening, we really are blessed to be living in a world that is so kind to grant us more episodes in these wonderful, fictional universes.
3. Netflix series game strong
Netflix is no longer just for movies and binge-watching beloved old television shows. They’ve changed up the game with creating their own content. This past spring with "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," this past summer with the new season of "Orange is the New Black" (arguably the best one so far) and just this last week with Aziz Ansari’s amazing new show, "Master of None." All of these shows are not only hilarious and have moments that will also pull at your heartstrings, but are also innovative in tackling issues of gender, race and class.
4. Musical theater slaying the scene
Starting with "Fun Home" winning the 2015 Tony award for best musical and marking the first musical to have a gay protagonist, the face of musical theatre has never been the same for all the right reasons. Also the revolutionary take on "Spring Awakening" incorporating the use of deaf and speaking actors and the musical, and "Dear Evan Hansen," featuring a main character who suffers from a social anxiety disorder which is coming to Off-Broadway next spring.
Even still, the list would be incomplete without mentioning "Hamilton," a musical that is not only a love letter to New York, musical theater and preserving the history of one of our founding fathers, but also showing how theatre can be transformed. It incorporates different forms of music like hip-hop and casts people of color as our founding fathers, even females playing them, which Lin-Manuel Miranda says he’s totally on board with.
5. Unexpected nostalgia
This truly has been a year of reflection. It's been a time of realizing that we are, in fact getting older with completely unprecedented things getting dropped on us like Nathan Kress (aka little Freddie Benson from "iCarly") getting married and finally knowing what Zoey said to Chase in her time capsule video on "Zoey 101"! Who would have ever thought we would get these delightful tidbits of pop culture?
6. A Progressive Pope
Pope Francis is our most modern Pope by far. He’s becoming involved with current state affairs and national crises. He’s the first Pope to address the U.S Congress, and he’s even on social media with his own Twitter! He’s notable for reconsidering how the Catholic Church views things like divorce, annulment and abortion. He’s getting in with the times and the people.
7. Education on transgender awareness
This feels like something long overdue, but we are now making this subject a priority in terms of acceptance and understanding. Transgender people are finally getting the outlets to express their feelings and the struggles they’ve endured which have gone unnoticed for some time. We’re able to not only approach the subject now but develop a positive attitude towards it for future generations to follow.
8. A Great year for music
When looking back at music this year, it’s really been a great one. One Direction coming in strong with their fifth album "Made in the A.M.," the return of Justin Bieber, Adele’s sudden drop of “Hello” and what’s expected to be a great album, the much-anticipated "25." Also great tracks from other artists like Fall Out Boy, Fifth Harmony, twenty-one pilots and Demi Lovato. Let’s hope they'll lead us into a good year of music in 2016.
It's important to remember how far we've come this year. Look back in search of gratitude, not grief, and you will be guaranteed to have a great Thanksgiving!
